Frank Donze/The Times-PicayuneMayor Mitch Landrieu joins former Mayor Marc Morial in announcing Friday that the National Urban League, which Morial heads, will hold its 2012 convention in New Orleans.

After exchanging a hug, Morial and Mayor Mitch Landrieu couldn't say enough nice things about each other as the two sons of ex-mayors stood shoulder to shoulder at a news conference.

"Mr. Mayor, welcome home," said a grinning Landrieu, adding that
Morial "is now serving with great distinction as an incredible voice
for the urban areas of America on the national level."

Morial quickly returned the bouquet.

"Thank you to Mayor Mitch Landrieu for his leadership in his early
months as mayor of this great city." Morial said, offering more kind
words for Nolan Rollins, president of the Urban League of Greater New
Orleans, and Flozell Daniels Jr., the local board chairman,

"The story behind our decision to come here in 2012 is their salesmanship and advocacy on behalf of the city," Morial said.

Morial also recalled that he met TV newswoman Michelle Miller, now
his wife, while holding a news conference in the same room on City
Hall's second floor.

"It was 16 years ago almost to the day, that I met my wife in this room," he said, drawing applause.

"And she was sitting right there," he added, pointing to Miller, now
a CBS News correspondent, who was seated in the first row with their
children, Mason Miller, 8, and Margeaux Marais, 4.

Morial and Miller tied the knot in 1999, during his second term in office.

Recalling Miller's tenure as a reporter for WWL-TV, Landrieu joked that she might want to take part in the news conference.

"She's not going to get to ask any questions," Morial shot back with a smile. "At least not in this room."